Connection



Nov. 2 1926. 1,605,878

E. H. MADE ENGINE AND TENDER DRAWBAR CONNECTION Filed Nov 20 1925 ficil,

Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

EVAN H. WADE, or OAK PARK, ILLrNo Is.

ENGINE AND TENDER DRAWBAR oonnncrron.

Application filed November 20, 1925. Serial No. 70,222.

This invention relates to improvements in engine and tender draw bar connections and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Engines and tenders in railway practice are usually connected together by means of draw bar or link having an eye in each end, the eye in oneend extending into the foot plate or deck casting of the engine and the eye in the other end extending into the front draw head of the tender, pins being employed and passing through suitable openings in the foot plate and draw head respectively and through the eyes of the draw bar. As is apparent such parts are indeed inaccessible and as it is the practice to inspect the draw bar connection at predeter- F mined intervals such inspection becomes expensive because it necessitates disconnecting all hoses and wire connections between the engine and tender, the separating of the engine and tender and blocking the wheels thereof before the draw bar can even be 2 removed for inspection. Should the eyes of the draw bar have become elongated beyond.

the usual tolerance permitted or should the pins show signs of wear, they must be either repaired or replaced by new ones. Such a procedure requires the foreshortening of the draw bar, the latter being performed by heating the draw bar and imparting an endwise compression thereto which changes the characteristics of the metal thereof so that its original efliciency is materially decreased even though it has been returned to its original length. The draw bar and pins must then be replaced and this task is not only laborious and expensive but it requires the consequent laying up of the engine from road duty. l I

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple yet a strong and efficient draw bar connection between the engine and 4 tender, having the desired flexibility for taking curves, and one which is notonlyeyeless and pinless but-one which may be .quick l y removed from its operative position for inspection, repair or replacement without making the usual "hose and conductor wire disconnectionbetween engine and ten'der and without separation thereof with the usual wheel blocking as isthe present practice. A'further-object of the inventionis to pro- 56 vide a simple draw bar-so formed as to in- -c1ude at the ends thereoifi, oppositely liming through an engine and tender draw bar connection embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the same on the line 2+2 of Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the draw bar shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a view showing in side elevation,

the manner in which one form of my im proved draw bar is made.

Fig; 5 is a view in side elevation of a modified form of invention. I

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of an other modified form of draw bar embodying my invention, 7

Referring now in detail .to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1

to l-inclusive of the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates as a whole the deck castlng of a locomotive engine and 2 indicates as a whole the front draw head of the associated tender. Said deck casting and draw-head are spaced :apart inthe usual manner and between them .is interposed a buffer construction 3 of suitable kind. As said buffer mechanism forms no essential part of the present invention, it is not thought necessary to go into detailed description of the same.

The deck casting 1 of the engine includes a top wall i inwhich is formed a clownwar'd'ly opening, substantially rectangular recess 5, the front and rear end walls of which provide longitudinally spaced shoulders 6 and 7 respectively. A suitable distance below the recess '5 is formed a transverse saddle plate 8 which is preferably made integral with side walls 9+9 depending from the main body or top wall portion a of the deck casting. Thus as is apparent the top wall/l, saddle late 8 and side wall portions 9-4) define a= ongitudinal opening 10 with which the recess cnmmnnicates.

draw 'bar embodying my The draw head 2 of the tender is of similar formation and includes a top wall i a transverse saddle plate 8 below the same made integral with sidexwall parts 9 depending from said top wall so as to define a longitudinally extending opening 10 therein. In the top wall of the draw head is formed a downwardly opening recess 5" similar to the recess 5 in the engine deck casting 1 before referred to, the front and'rear endwalls of the recess 5 providing longitudinally spaced inner and outershoulders 5 and 7* respectively. i

11 indicates as a whole my-iinproved draw barwhich is made from a bar of'rectangular cross section with the end portions 1212 thereof turned over upon the top surface of the bar (as shown in dott-id lines in Fig. 4) to form inwardly facing opposed and transversely curved shoulders 15-13 re.- spectively on the top side of the bar. Preferably but not necessari y so the engaging surfaces oft-he turned over end portions 1212 and top surface of the bar may be welded together to make a substantially integral structure. The extreme ends of said bar are rounded as at 1% in the folding or bending over of the end portions 12-12. Thus as it is apparent there is a shoulder 13 spaced from each endof the bars and'said shoulders face inwardlytoward each other.

The thickness of the bar at its ends after forming them as above described is less than the distance between the top wall and saddle plate of the associated deck casting and draw head, and to support the bar so that its shoulders 13 are in substantially the plane of the shoulders 6 and 6 respectively, I

employ saddle blocks 15.-15 which engage upon the saddle plates 8 and 8 respectively. Said blocks each include a front flange 16 and bolts 17 passing through said flange and associated saddle plates, removably secure the saddleblocks in place. VJith the parts intheir operative positions, the draw bar will rest upon the saddle blocks as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 so that the end portions l2.-12 of the draw head are engaged in the recesses 5 and 5 respectively and cannot become disengaged therefrom until said blocks are removed. The fit of said end parts 12-12 in their associated recesses are such as will permit not only the proper-amount of relative lateral motion between the engine and tender but also the relative vertical or wave motion therebetween. In the forward or pulling movement of the locomotive engine the shoulders 1313 of the draw bar will engage the shoulders 6 and 6 respectively so that the bar is placed under tension.

As railway practice requires inspection of the draw bar and its connections at periodic intervals, my improved construction is indeed advantageous in regard to the ease in which it may be inspected. Should inspection be desired, the saddle blocks are removed and this permits the bar to rest directly upon tliesaddle plates, so that the condition of the shoulders thereof may be determined. Should it be found that the shoulders 13 thereof are worn to or beyond the tolerances permitted, patch plates 13 as indicated in dotted lines in 3 may be weldedthereon to bring the spacing of the shoulders bacl: to the original dimensions. This may be done when the draw bar is resting upon the saddle plates and without disturbing the hose and conduit'connections between the engine and tender. Shoult it be desired to remove the draw bar, this may be done by moving it rearwardly through the opening 10 of the draw head as indicated in dotted lines and itwill not be necessary to separate the engine and tender or blocl; the wheels thereof and in no manner disturb the buffer construction. To replace the draw bar it is only necessary to reverse the mode of operation just described. Thus as is apparent, the draw bar may be removed and repla ed with but a small expenditureof labor and lay up time of the engine from road duty. 7 I

In Fig. 51 have shown a slightly modified form of draw bar wherein the ends 12*" of the draw bar are turned up at a right angle to form the shoulders 13 on the ends thereof and in Fig. 6 I have shown a structure wherein said shoulders are formed by the end surfaces of blocks 12 welded to the ends of the bar. I I -My improved bar is strong and rigid and includes no eyes. in the ends thereof. It is easily-made assembled in and removedfrom place and this at a great'saving in labor and expense. While in describing my invention, have referred to' certain details ofconstruction as well as form and arrangement of the parts thereof, the same is to be taken as by way of illustration only and therefore I do not wish to be limited thereto except as maybe pointed out in the appended claims.

I Ol2Lll11-21S my invention 1 1. In combination with an engine having a deck casting and a tender having a draw head, ,means providing oppositely facing shoulders 1011 the underside of said casting and draw head, a draw bar having oppositely facing shoulders at its ends adapted to engage the shoulders on said casting and draw head respectively, and means operatively supporting said draw bar in a manner permitting its removal without separation of the engine and tender.

.2. In combination with an engine having a deck casting and a tender having a draw head. means providing oppositely facing shoulders on the underside of said casting and draw head, a draw bar having oppositelUtI' lUi) 1y facing shoulders at its ends adapted to engage the shoulders on said casting and tender respectively, a draw bar having ends adapted to engage in said recesses, which ends provide shoulders adapted to engage with said first named shoulders, means removably carried by said casting and draw head respectively for supporting the draw bar with its ends in said recesses, said means being of such a height relative to the ends of the draw bar as to permit the removal of said draw bar from below after removal oi said means, without separating the engine and tender.

4. In combination with an engine having a deck casting and a tender having a draw head, each provided with. a downwardly opening recess in its underside,thus forming spaced shoulders on said casting and tender respectively, a draw bar having ends adapted to engage in said recesses, which ends provide shoulders adapted to engage with said first named shoulders, saddle blocks removably secured to said casting and draw head respectively and upon which the draw bar rests with its ends in said casting and draw head recesses, said draw bar upon removal of one saddle block, being removable without separating the engine and tender.

5. In combination with an engine having a deck casting and a tender having a draw head, said casting and draw head each including downwardly opening recesses in its underside and with side walls depending below the same and saddle plates connecting said side walls, a draw bar having end portions extending above the body of the draw bar and adapted to engage in said recesses, and blocks removably mounted on said saddle plates for supporting the draw bar in position with its end portions in said recesses.

6. In combination with an engine having a deck casting and a tender having a draw" head, said casting and draw head each having a downwardly facing recess in its underside, providing pairs of spaced shoulders, a butter interposed between said casting and draw head, a draw bar having upwardly extending end portions to loosely engage in said recesses, and providing opposed shoulders thereon, and removable means mounted on the casting and draw head forsupporting said draw bar with its end portions in said recesses, the shoulders on the draw bar on the draw of the engine, each engaging one of the pairs of spaced shoulders on the casting and draw head respectively, said draw bar being inoperative upon the buff movement of the engine which is imparted to the tender through the bufi'er.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 14th day of November, 1925.

EVAN H. WADE. 

